The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-06-09
MISREPRESENTATION OF HAWAIIAN
ABROAD.

In regard to HAW ali, or the Sandwich.
Islands, az they are more familiarly
known to English-speaking countries, II
would seem that the newspapers of tho
United States and Of the United King
dom have more to say about King Kala
kaua's Kingdom than those of any other
nation.
The general opinion expressed is one
honorable and complimentary to the
leading Polynesian State, but there ha,
also been a good deal OF misrepresenta
ton by persons who were really guests
and advantaged themselves to misrepre
sent their hosts by mis-statements and
exaggerations. OF this questionable re
ample in the Sunday " Herald o
Chicago of May 9Th. 4 whole page o
the journal, interpreted with illustrs
tons, was devoted to the visit of Queen
Kapiolani, and to the report of a resi-
dence "among the Kanakas" In the
account of the visit of Growers
Royal Guest" there is the usual ex-
traVagance often seen in printin:
pictures OF the Royal representative
OF the ''Cannibal Islands" which amuses
the average unread Anglo Saxon. A
. stout woman bedecked with enormous
barbaric jewels, and war club in hand,
is represented as embracing the mem
Bers of the Presidential family at the
81, I
harmless, certainly, and yet we wonder
that prominent journal of a great am
enlightened city should expect to enter
tain It's readers with such gross and vile
combination of utterly unfounded exag-
geratiou. 1t indicates very low esti-
mate OF its readers.
However, we pass this by as harmless,
but read with regret the report of ''Life
among the Kanakas," by a Chicagoan
in "KapiOlani's Land"
This "Chicagoan'' is stated in the
above newspaper to be DIR. g. A. Raw
son, for while Government Physician
at Maui, and now resident of Madison
Street, Chicago. The Doctor, in speak
ing OF Queen Kapiolani, says: ''In hel
native hut in the corner OF the Palace
grounds, the Queen eats three-fnger poi,
smokes black pipe and sleeps in the
open air on 'pohala mat" (sic).
We have unfortunately had q number
Of professedly friendly visitors who, after
staying here for while anu gaining
certain amount OF confidence and patron
age have gone away and, with two or
three honorable exceptions, have in
variably exaggerated and misrepresenteo
everything that has come under their
observation in the country.
This Doctor had every reason t.
carry away with him pleasant i'm
pressions, and to hold the country and
the people in grateful remembrance, ami
perhaps be does entertain pleasant i'm
pressions and, privately, expresses
grateful feeling In REGARD TO the time ne
lived on these islands, but ne evidently
felt when he reached his home in Chi
cago, and was interviewed about the
Sandwich Islands that he had to tell
something sensational to satisfy the
tastes of those whose reading only asso-
ciates these Islands with the killing of
Captain Cook and canrihalism. There
fore it may be said that We must not
altogether blame our visitors who return
home to tell extrayagAnt stories, but
rather for that want of personal infor-
nation which makes a caricature rea-
sonable and acceptance.
1t is our chief aim to disseminate cor
rect information about the Islands We
know that the journals here have been
subsidized and that copies OF these
papers have been circulated abroad to
spread broadcast abuse against the Gov
eminent A prominent gentleman
boa-ted that he sent of by the last mail
20 copies Of journal devoted solely to !
abuse Of the Government of the country,
and filed with caricAtures of public
persons lat have not single founda-
ton in /. CT.
Hence. unfortunately, it is chiefly
from home sources that misrepresenta- !
ton from dawAii prevails abroad.